Artificial bait



April 6, 1954 B. HAYDEN ARTIFICIAL BAIT Filed March 26, 1948 INVENTOR BOYD HAYDEN ATTYS Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED S-T FATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

' This invention relates to-artificial-bait adapted for use in.casting'andrtrollingfor fish. It isian object of the invention to provide an artificial; bait or lure having aportion whichis: detachable. and replaceable so thatthe. appearance of. the: bait can be'readily changed; According to theinventioma rigid, plane member isprovided, preferably of metal. This member has one or two longitudinally extending slots Either or both of these members may preferably, but not necessarily, have a contour resembling aminnow. The flexible member may be suppliedin avariety of colors or color combinations,

any one of which can be selected to be joined to" the rigid member. The assembled members are shapedso as to interlock and thus to prevent accidental detachment of the flexible member when'the bait is in use.

For a more completeunderstandingof the invention, reference maybe had to the following description thereof, and to the drawing, of

which Figure 1 is'a perspective view ofan. artificial bait embodyingfthe invention;

Figures 2: and 3' are elevational views of the parts of the bait: shown in Figure 1;.

Figure-4 is an elevation of a modified part; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 7;

Figure '7 is a bottomplan view of amodified of two elongated members of sheetmaterial, one of'which is preferably rigid, the other being stifily resilient.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the rigid member ID is preferably'of metal, such as 'brass, andmay be cutout inthe approxi shape of a minnow. The stimy' resilient therein adapted toreceive and hold astifliy resilient member which is preferably. of a waterproof plastic material such as a synthetic resin.

2'? member 12 maybe also in the shape. of aimin now, and may consist ofsuitable waterproof=- material or materials-such as a synthetic-resina 'Ilhe resilient. member I2 is, for convenience;

hereinafter referred to as. the plastic member since it is. preferably made of plasticsheet material, though it is: to be understood that otherresilientmaterials may be used, such as spring; sheet metal, for example. In order to attractthe attention'offish, themembers [B and l2- of the lure may be brightly finished. For this-pure pose, the metal member lllqmay. be: platediwith nickel or chromium, and polished. Holes- H are, providedin the forward'endof the-metal;member for attachinga-line or leader. A hole H is in-the tail end for attaching a=fish-hook. The plastic member l2 may be furnishedin avariety; of colors, or combinations of colors, which can: be selectively employedin conjunctionwith-the metal member. One desirable materialfor the plastic member I2 is alaminated, synthetic. resin sheet having acentral layer of. bits of foil or other bright reflecting material which causesa scintillating. reflection of light-from either sur- I face of the-sheet. Themembers Wand l2 are designed for quick and easy assembling andsdisassemblying, the members being firmly locked. together when assembled.

Asindicated in Figures 1 and 5,.the-plastic member is arranged withirespect tothe-metah member lflinsucha manner that it is substantiallybisected-by the plane of the -metalmembery. and transverse lines on the plastic member I 2 are perpendicular. to the plane'of themetal-member 10.

In-theform of. the invention shown-inFi gure.

1, the forward portion of the plastic member 12 is substantially plane, its plane being;- perpendicular: to the'plane ofthe-metal. member. 10, .but. the tail portion l4 may be curved upwardso as toicause anundulating or fioppingmovement of the lure when it is drawn-throughvwater.- The metal member i0- is: provided withan elon gatedslot l B which tapers inwidthfromits mid portion toward its-ends. Thisslot extends lon gitudinally' with respect to the metalmember and has one substantially, straightside I 8} the. mid-portionofthe opposite. side 20 being-(con.-

vexly curved to. widen-this portion of thesl otL A lug 22- projectsfrom the straight side. l8 to ward the opposite side 20:, the-slot beingj wide enough :at the :lug to provide sufficient clearance:

betweeniit-andathe oppositesidelfl. .The pure pose of the slotl61 is to receive apertion-of; the

plastic member #2 wliich may be inserted 'eflgew 3 wise therein until its median is within the slot. The outside contour of the metal member I is notched, as at 24, to form a shoulder 26, which is in line with the slot I6. Between the rear end of the slot l6 and the shoulder 26 is a narrow neck 28. When the members are to be assembled, the plastic member I2 is presented to the metal member 10 with its plane perpendicular to the plane of the metal member. The two members are moved together so that the neck 28 enters a bayonet slot 30 in the plastic member 12. The inner portion of this slot is on the median line of the plastic member l2. Also on the median line is a slot 32 which is long enough to receive the lug 22 of the metal member. In the form of the member 12 shown in Figure 3, a short slot 34 extends inward from the forward end of the member, this slot also being on the median line of the. member. When the members have been moved together so that the neck 28 moves to the end of the transverse portion of the bayonet slot 30, the member I2 is then swung about the neck 28 as a pivot until the portion of the member [2 forward of the slot 30 has entered the slot I6 far enough to bring the median line into the plane of the metal member. In order to swing the plastic member l2 into such position, it is necessary to spring or bow the forward portion thereof suificiently to clear the lug 22. When the plastic member is swung into the position mentioned, the slot 32 does not register with the lug 22 since it is offset therefrom rearwardly. The plastic member [2 is then pushed forward, the neck 28 thus being moved down the longitudinal portion of the bayonet slot'30 until it engages the rear end wall 36 of the bayonet slot. This brings the slot 32 into register with the lug 22, whereupon the resilience of the sprung member l2 causes its forward'portion to assume its normal plane shape and to engage against the straight edge is of the slot l6, and the lug 22 enters the slot 32. The members are locked together by the interengagement of surface elements on sides and ends of the slots in the members as follows. The forward end of the lug, which constitutes a shoulder 38, engages against the forward end wall 40 of the slot 32 and thus prevents rearward movement of the plastic member l2 relative to the metal member ID. Since the rear end 36 of the bayonet slot 30 engages the edge 26 in the notch 24 to prevent further forward movement of the member 12 relative to the member to, the member 12 is thus locked against any longitudinal movement relative to the metal member 10. Furthermore, lateral movement of the member l2 relative to the member ID is prevented at three points, by the engagement of theneck 28 with the sides of the slot 30 adjacent to the rear wall 36, by the engagement of the sides of "the slot 32 with the sides of the lug 22,

and by the engagement of the metal adjacent to the forward end 42 of the slot l against the sides of the short slot 34 in the forward end of the member [2. The length of the member I2 is such that the slot 34 receives a portion of the member Hlwhen the member i2 is pushed forward to its normal assembled position. In order to disassemble the two members, it is first necessary to spring the forward portion of the plastic member upward until it clears the lug 22 so that the member I2 can be then pushed back to a point where it can be swung about the neck 28.

Figure 4 shows a modified shape of the plastic member 50. This member has no slot in its for- 4 ward end but is provided with a central slot 52 and with a bayonet slot 54, the inner portion of which extends forward to an end 56. In order to assemble this plastic member with the metal member ID, the neck 28 is introduced into the slot 54 and is caused to advance to the forward end 56 of the slot. The plastic member 50 is then swung about the neck 58 as a pivot until the slot 52 registers with the lug 22 and snaps down over it, the slot 52 being spaced from the end 56 of the bayonet slot by a distance equal to that between the lug 22 and the neck 28. In this case, forward movement of the plastic member 50 with respect to the metal member ID is prevented by engagement of the front end 58 of the plastic member against the end 42 of the slot l6 and also by the engagement of the rear end 60 of the slot 52 against the rear end 64 of the lug 22. Rearward movement of the plastic member 50 is prevented by engagement of the end 56 of the bayonet slot 54 against the neck 28 which is at the rear end of the slot 16, and by the lug 22 in the slot 52. Lateral movement of the plastic member is prevented by the engagement of the neck 28 in the bayonet slot 54 and by the engagement of the lug 22 in the slot 52. In order to disassemble the members, it is necessary first to press against the under face of p the plastic member 50 so as to spring the forward portion clear of the lug 22, whereupon it can be swung laterally to move it outof the slot IS.

A modified form of the invention is shown-"in Figures 6 and 7, this form consisting of a rigid metal plate member H1, having one side edge witha convex arcuate portion 52 which extends'for the greater part of the length of the member. Assembled with the member 10 is a stifiiy resilient member 14 of sheet material such as a synthetic resin or the like. As in the case of the members shown in Figures 3 and 4; the member 14 is preferably of material which will give a scintillating reflection of light. The metal member 10 is provided with short slots 16 and 18 extending in from the respective ends thereof,'

these slots being approximately in line with the adjacent ends of the arcuate edge portion 12.-

The plastic member 14 is provided with two longitudinally extending slots and 82 near its respective ends. In assembling the two members, the plastic member 14 is presented to the arcuate edge 12 with its plane perpendicular to the plane of the metal member 10. The righthand end of the plastic member is slipped over the end of the metal member until the slot 82 registers with the slot 18. Thereupon, the plastic member 12 is moved longitudinally toward the left until the end wall 84 of the slot 82 engages the inner end wall 850i the slot'l8. The distance between the end wall 84 82 and the end wall 88 of the slot 89 is such that when the plastic member has been moved to this position, the left-hand end of theplastic member can be bowed or sprung around the arcuate-edge metal member 10. The plastic member 14' is.

then pushed toward the right until the end wall 88 of the slot 83 engages the inner end eilof the slot 16. The slot 18 at the right-hand end of the metal member has a widened portion near its open end, forming a shoulder 92 in a side edge.

thereof. The distance between the shoulder 92 and the'inner end 90 of the slot 13 measured of the slot egczsynno along the arcuate edge I2; is equal to theadi'stance between the end 88 of. theslot 801and the end 8401 the slot82. Hence, when the-plastic member is movedtoward the right untilzthe end of the slot. 80. engages the end: 90. of the slot. 16, the end 84. of. the slot 32 willspring over .the shoulder 92 and will-then be in. engagementwith that shoulder until released therefrom when the right-hand end of the plastic member is sprung upward against its natural resilience. Thus, the slots at the ends of the metal member and within the ends of the plastic member interlock to prevent lateral movement of the plastic member relative to the metal member. The engagement of the slot ends 84 and 88 with the shoulders 92 and 90 respectively prevents longitudinal movement of the plastic member relative to the metal member. Hence, the members are securely locked together until released by springing the right-hand end of the plastic member so as to clear the shoulder 92, and then shifting the plastic member to the left and right to disengage the end slots.

The form of lure shown in Figure 8 is similar to that shown in Figure 6 except that the locking shoulder is located at a point near the middle of the metal piece rather than near the righthand end. As shown, the metal member I is provided with a convex arcuate edge portion I02 and end slots I04 and IE6 which extend in from the ends of the metal member and are in line with the arc I02. The plastic member IIO has 4 three aligned, longitudinal slots H2, H4 and H6 therein, spaced inward from the ends of the member. The arcuate edge )2 is interrupted by an upstanding lug I I8 which has a shoulder I20. When the plastic member is applied to the metal member, the slot H6 is moved over the righthand end of the metal memberuntil this slot is in register with the slot I06. The lastic member is then moved toward the left until the lefthand end can be sprung about the end of the metal member to bring the slot II 2 in register with the slot I04. The plastic member is then moved back toward the right until the slot H4 is entered by the lug I I8, the shoulder I20 thereupon engaging one end of the slot II4 to lock the plastic member against movement toward the left. Further movement toward the right is prevented by the engagement of the end of the slot II2 with the inner end of the slot I94. The members can be readily disassembled by reversing the movements by which they were assemble-d.

Since the curvature of the member I4 or IIO may cause the lure to dive when it is drawn through water, a buoyant element I22 of cork, wood, or an equivalent may be detachably or permanently mounted on the metal member as for example by a transverse pin I24 in the buoyant member which passes through a hole or slot I26 in the metal member.

Figures 9 and show the members of another modified form of the invention comprising a rigid member I30 of sheet metal or an equivalent and a stiflly resilient member I32 of plastic sheet material or the like. The forward portion of the member I30, which may be given a contour shape resembling a minnow, is plane and has a slot I34 therein somewhat similar to the slot I6 shown in Figure 2 in that one side I36 of the slot is straight with a lug I38 projecting therefrom toward the other side I40 of the slot, the latter being convexly curved opposite the lug I38 to provide suflicient clearance to receive the resilient member I 32. As shown, the tail portionv 1'42 ofitherigidlmembn I 30:is .curved to*pr.er vent: the; lure from surfacing when. it is being drawn through t'hewater; The resilient member I32: is: plane and: has :.a.-central= slot I44 to fit over the lug I30. Itmay. also have a notch I46. in its tail end. To assemble the members, the resilient member is longitudinally sprung and is introduced edgew-ise into the slot I 34-tail first so that the notch I;4;6:,can receivezthe end. I;4'8.'of the slot I34. When the slot I44 registers with the lug I38, themember I 32 springs back to. its. usual plane shape as'the lug I38" enters the slot I44. The member I32 is thus held in its assembled position by engagement of its end portions between the sides of the corresponding portions of the slot I34 and by engagement of the sides of the slot I44 with the ends and sides of the lug I38. The engagement of the notch I44 with the tail end I48 of the slot I38 also helps, but is not necessary. To disassemble the members, the resilient member is sprung until its mid-portion clears the lug I 38. It is then removed edgewise from the slot I 34,

Figures 11 and 12 show the members of another modification wherein the rigid member I50 has a slot I52 having a straight side with two lugs I54 projecting therefrom, the slot being widened opposite these lugs by convex curves i523, I66 in the opposite side, the end portions and mid-portion of the slot being slightly wider than the thickness of the resilient member I60 which is adapted to enter it edgewise when sprung to clear the lugs I54. The member I60 has two properly spaced slots I62 on its median adapted to receive the respective lugs I54 for an interlock therewith. The portion of the rigid member I50 containing the slot I52 is plane, but the tail portion of this member is preferably curved, the resilient member I60 being plane.

Various further modifications and changes may be made in the embodiments of the invention herein described without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fish lure comprising an elongated, substantially rigid member of sheet material having a longitudinally extending slot within its contour, said slot tapering in width from its midportion toward its ends and having a lug projecting from one edge thereof at the portion of maximum width, and a stifily resilient member of sheet material having a portion adapted to be inserted edgewise in said slot to assemble the members, and having a slot on its longitudinal median adapted to engage over said lug to lock the members together when assembled.

2. A fish lure comprising a rigid member of sheet material having a contour shape resembling a minnow, a major portion of said member being plane with a tail portion curved out of the plane, said member having a slot in its plane portion with a lug projecting into the slot from one side edge thereof, said slot being widened opposite said lug, and a stifily resilient plane member having a median slot adapted to fit over said lug, said resilient member being of sheet material having a thickness slightly less than the narrow portions of the slot in the rigid member.

3. A fish lure comprising an elongated, substantially rigid member of sheet material having a longitudinally extending slot within its contour, said slot tapering in width from its midportion toward its ends and having a lug projecting from one edge thereof at the portion of maximiim width, 'and a. stiflly' resilient member of. sheet material having a portion adapted to be inserted edgewise in said slot to assemble the members, and having a slot adapted to engage over said lug to lock the members together when assembled.

Y References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Number Name Date Russell Apr. 5, 1921 Tomlin Dec. 16, 1924 Larson Mar. 11, 1941 Westby Apr. 29, 1941 Guillow June 13, 1944 Craig July 11, 1950 

